cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Reply
ryang
Helper I
Helper I

PowerApps Data Entry Grid - Tab Key Issues

I created a data entry grid in powerapps using a gallery and within the gallery using text boxes with its On Change property set to  Patch(Products, ThisItem, { <fieldName>: TextInput.Text }). Similar to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2WqhRTUhyw

This grid is 50 rows and 4 columns, and has tab index set from 1 to 200 for each "cell". If i use the tab key, i can effortlessly move from cell to cell in the correct order. However, if i enter some data in a cell and use tab after that, the tab key takes me back to the column 1 of that same row. 

 

I have been trouble shooting this but to no avail. I disabled the On Change property to each cell to false, and my issue was fixed, however, i could not get back the data to my collection and eventually my data source.

Anyone has experienced issues as such? Thanks in advance.

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions

Let's say you have a collection called Collection1 that populates blank rows in Gallery1 to be written and saved each day. Think of this as a placeholder.

 

// Create 50 empty rows in Collection1 which will pre-populate a gallery.
Clear(Collection1);
ForAll(
    [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50],
    Collect(Collection1,
        {
            Group: "G" & Value,
            Value1: 0,
            Value2: 0,
            Value3: 0,
            Comment:""
        }
    )
)

 

For this example, the Items property of Gallery1 is set to Collection1.

 

Inside Gallery1 we include text input boxes whose Default property is set to Group, Value1, 2, 3, and Comment. In the OnChange property of those 5 input boxes, we can write changes to a new collection, Collection2. This is what we'll ultimately save back to SQL.

 

If(
    // Check if there is already a change for the given record.
    ThisItem.Group exactin Collection2.Group,

    // CASE: Update an existing change.
    Patch(Collection2,LookUp(Collection2,Group=ThisItem.Group),
        {
            Group: TextInput1.Text,
            Value1: Value(TextInput2.Text),
            Value2: Value(TextInput3.Text),
            Value3: Value(TextInput4.Text),
            Comment: TextInput5.Text
        }
    ),

    // CASE: Create a new change,
    Collect(Collection2,
        {
            Group: TextInput1.Text,
            Value1: Value(TextInput2.Text),
            Value2: Value(TextInput3.Text),
            Value3: Value(TextInput4.Text),
            Comment: TextInput5.Text
        }
    )
)

 

Collection1 remains untouched so that the gallery doesn't get updated and reload. Patches made to Collection2 are immediate and do not have any performance impact because you're not writing back to the data source after each revision.

 

Once all changes are made, you can set the OnSelect property of a submit button to one of these options:

// Option 1: If the column names of Collection2 are identical to the SQL table, you can simply use Collect.
// Sort is used since changes might not be created in order. Use an ID column otherwise.
Collect(dbo.Datasource1,Sort(Collection2,Group))

// Option 2: If the column names of Collection2 differ from the SQL table, you can rename and drop any columns first.
Collect(dbo.Datasource1,
    Sort(
        DropColumns(
            RenameColumns(Collection2,"Group","Column1"),
            "ColumnX"
        ),
        Group
    )
)

// Option 3: You can manually save each column of each record.
ForAll(
    Sort(Collection2,Group),
    Patch(dbo.Datasource1,
        Defaults(dbo.Datasource1),
        {
            Group: Group,
            Value1: Value1,
            Value2: Value2,
            Value3: Value3,
            Comment: Comment
        }
    )
)

 

Let me know if you're able to implement this.

View solution in original post

10 REPLIES 10
RossB
Employee
Employee

Hello,

 

Take a look at this entire post.  Let me know if it helps you out at all: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Power-Apps/Tab-Order-on-Text-Input/td-p/41371

 

Thanks!

Thank you but it did not.

The 200 "Cells" each have tab index from 1 to 200 using a formula.

I can not refresh the data source because the gallery's data source is a Collection and not a managed connection.

Using Tab or Shift + Tab works fine; i can navigate my 200 cells in correct order. My problem lies when I change a value within a cell then use tab. The tab key would take me back to the start of that row.

If set the On Change property of the Cells to false, everything works fine. However, without the On Change = Patch(Collection, ThisItem, { <fieldName>: TextInput.Text }), updating the Gallery does not update the Collection.

Hi @ryang ,

If I'm understanding your scenario, you have mimicked a spreadsheet experience in a gallery in Power Apps.

  • Making a change to a field causes a Patch() OnChange.
  • When you tab through the fields, the tab index jumps to the start.

 

What's happening here is that when you Patch() a value to a table that the gallery depends on, the gallery gets updated and the focus is reset to the start of the row. 

 

As a general principle, I would not recommend this design pattern as there are others that work more effectively and efficiently for apps. Here's some common patterns for example:

  • Generic form experience: use the 3-screen experience to browse all records, select one record to view, and edit it.
  • Edit button in-line: insert an edit button into the gallery. Upon clicking edit, show a save button in-line so saving changes of one record is done at the end rather than having multiple writes for each field that is changed.
  • Collection: collect each record that has changed. Click a button to commit all changes at once.

Addendum: It is not necessary to change the TabIndex unless you want to override the default top-left to bottom-right order. 

Thank you for your response and I think you understood my scenario for the most part.

I initially had override the tab index as part of my troubleshooting.

 

The Patch() in the On Change, i used a Collection as my data source.

 

My main issue would be that "one record" is 200 data points. I had used the gallery and the Patch() in the On Change as a simplification of the form.

Then there is a button at the end of the form, that Patches the entire Collection to Azure SQL. How would you go about this?


@ryang wrote:

My main issue would be that "one record" is 200 data points. I had used the gallery and the Patch() in the On Change as a simplification of the form.


I don't understand this part. Can you describe what you set up here? A diagram or screenshot will help.

powerappscreenshot.png

Users need to fill out one of these every day. It goes for about 50ish rows. Ultimately I ended up putting 200+ textboxes on the screen, but there has to be a better way.

Ideally, updating a cell will update a collection, then when a submit button is used at the end of the screen, the Collection will Patch to my database.


Let's say you have a collection called Collection1 that populates blank rows in Gallery1 to be written and saved each day. Think of this as a placeholder.

 

// Create 50 empty rows in Collection1 which will pre-populate a gallery.
Clear(Collection1);
ForAll(
    [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50],
    Collect(Collection1,
        {
            Group: "G" & Value,
            Value1: 0,
            Value2: 0,
            Value3: 0,
            Comment:""
        }
    )
)

 

For this example, the Items property of Gallery1 is set to Collection1.

 

Inside Gallery1 we include text input boxes whose Default property is set to Group, Value1, 2, 3, and Comment. In the OnChange property of those 5 input boxes, we can write changes to a new collection, Collection2. This is what we'll ultimately save back to SQL.

 

If(
    // Check if there is already a change for the given record.
    ThisItem.Group exactin Collection2.Group,

    // CASE: Update an existing change.
    Patch(Collection2,LookUp(Collection2,Group=ThisItem.Group),
        {
            Group: TextInput1.Text,
            Value1: Value(TextInput2.Text),
            Value2: Value(TextInput3.Text),
            Value3: Value(TextInput4.Text),
            Comment: TextInput5.Text
        }
    ),

    // CASE: Create a new change,
    Collect(Collection2,
        {
            Group: TextInput1.Text,
            Value1: Value(TextInput2.Text),
            Value2: Value(TextInput3.Text),
            Value3: Value(TextInput4.Text),
            Comment: TextInput5.Text
        }
    )
)

 

Collection1 remains untouched so that the gallery doesn't get updated and reload. Patches made to Collection2 are immediate and do not have any performance impact because you're not writing back to the data source after each revision.

 

Once all changes are made, you can set the OnSelect property of a submit button to one of these options:

// Option 1: If the column names of Collection2 are identical to the SQL table, you can simply use Collect.
// Sort is used since changes might not be created in order. Use an ID column otherwise.
Collect(dbo.Datasource1,Sort(Collection2,Group))

// Option 2: If the column names of Collection2 differ from the SQL table, you can rename and drop any columns first.
Collect(dbo.Datasource1,
    Sort(
        DropColumns(
            RenameColumns(Collection2,"Group","Column1"),
            "ColumnX"
        ),
        Group
    )
)

// Option 3: You can manually save each column of each record.
ForAll(
    Sort(Collection2,Group),
    Patch(dbo.Datasource1,
        Defaults(dbo.Datasource1),
        {
            Group: Group,
            Value1: Value1,
            Value2: Value2,
            Value3: Value3,
            Comment: Comment
        }
    )
)

 

Let me know if you're able to implement this.

Thank you so very much!

Oh, one caveat is if a row had not been updated, it would not be in Collection2 and would not be written to the data source. So the solution I wrote assumes all rows would be updated.

 

Some additional logic would be needed in the event that a row would remain at 0s.

Helpful resources

Announcements

Exclusive LIVE Community Event: Power Apps Copilot Coffee Chat with Copilot Studio Product Team

  It's time for the SECOND Power Apps Copilot Coffee Chat featuring the Copilot Studio product team, which will be held LIVE on April 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).     This is an incredible opportunity to connect with members of the Copilot Studio product team and ask them anything about Copilot Studio. We'll share our special guests with you shortly--but we want to encourage to mark your calendars now because you will not want to miss the conversation.   This live event will give you the unique opportunity to learn more about Copilot Studio plans, where we’ll focus, and get insight into upcoming features. We’re looking forward to hearing from the community, so bring your questions!   TO GET ACCESS TO THIS EXCLUSIVE AMA: Kudo this post to reserve your spot! Reserve your spot now by kudoing this post.  Reservations will be prioritized on when your kudo for the post comes through, so don't wait! Click that "kudo button" today.   Invitations will be sent on April 2nd.Users posting Kudos after April 2nd. at 9AM PDT may not receive an invitation but will be able to view the session online after conclusion of the event. Give your "kudo" today and mark your calendars for April 3rd, 2024 at 9:30 AM PDT and join us for an engaging and informative session!

Tuesday Tip: Unlocking Community Achievements and Earning Badges

TUESDAY TIPS are our way of communicating helpful things we've learned or shared that have helped members of the Community. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, Tuesday Tips will help you know where to go, what to look for, and navigate your way through the ever-growing--and ever-changing--world of the Power Platform Community! We cover basics about the Community, provide a few "insider tips" to make your experience even better, and share best practices gleaned from our most active community members and Super Users.   With so many new Community members joining us each week, we'll also review a few of our "best practices" so you know just "how" the Community works, so make sure to watch the News & Announcements each week for the latest and greatest Tuesday Tips!     THIS WEEK'S TIP: Unlocking Achievements and Earning BadgesAcross the Communities, you'll see badges on users profile that recognize and reward their engagement and contributions. These badges each signify a different achievement--and all of those achievements are available to any Community member! If you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, you too can earn badges for the great work you do. Check out some details on Community badges below--and find out more in the detailed link at the end of the article!       A Diverse Range of Badges to Collect The badges you can earn in the Community cover a wide array of activities, including: Kudos Received: Acknowledges the number of times a user’s post has been appreciated with a “Kudo.”Kudos Given: Highlights the user’s generosity in recognizing others’ contributions.Topics Created: Tracks the number of discussions initiated by a user.Solutions Provided: Celebrates the instances where a user’s response is marked as the correct solution.Reply: Counts the number of times a user has engaged with community discussions.Blog Contributor: Honors those who contribute valuable content and are invited to write for the community blog.       A Community Evolving Together Badges are not only a great way to recognize outstanding contributions of our amazing Community members--they are also a way to continue fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. As you continue to share your knowledge and assist each other these badges serve as a visual representation of your valuable contributions.   Find out more about badges in these Community Support pages in each Community: All About Community Badges - Power Apps CommunityAll About Community Badges - Power Automate CommunityAll About Community Badges - Copilot Studio CommunityAll About Community Badges - Power Pages Community

Tuesday Tips: Powering Up Your Community Profile

TUESDAY TIPS are our way of communicating helpful things we've learned or shared that have helped members of the Community. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, Tuesday Tips will help you know where to go, what to look for, and navigate your way through the ever-growing--and ever-changing--world of the Power Platform Community! We cover basics about the Community, provide a few "insider tips" to make your experience even better, and share best practices gleaned from our most active community members and Super Users.   With so many new Community members joining us each week, we'll also review a few of our "best practices" so you know just "how" the Community works, so make sure to watch the News & Announcements each week for the latest and greatest Tuesday Tips!   This Week's Tip: Power Up Your Profile!  🚀 It's where every Community member gets their start, and it's essential that you keep it updated! Your Community User Profile is how you're able to get messages, post solutions, ask questions--and as you rank up, it's where your badges will appear and how you'll be known when you start blogging in the Community Blog. Your Community User Profile is how the Community knows you--so it's essential that it works the way you need it to! From changing your username to updating contact information, this Knowledge Base Article is your best resource for powering up your profile.     Password Puzzles? No Problem! Find out how to sync your Azure AD password with your community account, ensuring a seamless sign-in. No separate passwords to remember! Job Jumps & Email Swaps Changed jobs? Got a new email? Fear not! You'll find out how to link your shiny new email to your existing community account, keeping your contributions and connections intact. Username Uncertainties Unraveled Picking the perfect username is crucial--and sometimes the original choice you signed up with doesn't fit as well as you may have thought. There's a quick way to request an update here--but remember, your username is your community identity, so choose wisely. "Need Admin Approval" Warning Window? If you see this error message while using the community, don't worry. A simple process will help you get where you need to go. If you still need assistance, find out how to contact your Community Support team. Whatever you're looking for, when it comes to your profile, the Community Account Support Knowledge Base article is your treasure trove of tips as you navigate the nuances of your Community Profile. It’s the ultimate resource for keeping your digital identity in tip-top shape while engaging with the Power Platform Community. So, dive in and power up your profile today!  💪🚀   Community Account Support | Power Apps Community Account Support | Power AutomateCommunity Account Support | Copilot Studio  Community Account Support | Power Pages

Super User of the Month | Chris Piasecki

In our 2nd installment of this new ongoing feature in the Community, we're thrilled to announce that Chris Piasecki is our Super User of the Month for March 2024. If you've been in the Community for a while, we're sure you've seen a comment or marked one of Chris' helpful tips as a solution--he's been a Super User for SEVEN consecutive seasons!       Since authoring his first reply in April 2020 to his most recent achievement organizing the Canadian Power Platform Summit this month, Chris has helped countless Community members with his insights and expertise. In addition to being a Super User, Chris is also a User Group leader, Microsoft MVP, and a featured speaker at the Microsoft Power Platform Conference. His contributions to the new SUIT program, along with his joyous personality and willingness to jump in and help so many members has made Chris a fixture in the Power Platform Community.   When Chris isn't authoring solutions or organizing events, he's actively leading Piasecki Consulting, specializing in solution architecture, integration, DevOps, and more--helping clients discover how to strategize and implement Microsoft's technology platforms. We are grateful for Chris' insightful help in the Community and look forward to even more amazing milestones as he continues to assist so many with his great tips, solutions--always with a smile and a great sense of humor.You can find Chris in the Community and on LinkedIn. Thanks for being such a SUPER user, Chris! 💪🌠

Find Out What Makes Super Users So Super

We know many of you visit the Power Platform Communities to ask questions and receive answers. But do you know that many of our best answers and solutions come from Community members who are super active, helping anyone who needs a little help getting unstuck with Business Applications products? We call these dedicated Community members Super Users because they are the real heroes in the Community, willing to jump in whenever they can to help! Maybe you've encountered them yourself and they've solved some of your biggest questions. Have you ever wondered, "Why?"We interviewed several of our Super Users to understand what drives them to help in the Community--and discover the difference it has made in their lives as well! Take a look in our gallery today: What Motivates a Super User? - Power Platform Community (microsoft.com)

March User Group Update: New Groups and Upcoming Events!

  Welcome to this month’s celebration of our Community User Groups and exciting User Group events. We’re thrilled to introduce some brand-new user groups that have recently joined our vibrant community. Plus, we’ve got a lineup of engaging events you won’t want to miss. Let’s jump right in: New User Groups   Sacramento Power Platform GroupANZ Power Platform COE User GroupPower Platform MongoliaPower Platform User Group OmanPower Platform User Group Delta StateMid Michigan Power Platform Upcoming Events  DUG4MFG - Quarterly Meetup - Microsoft Demand PlanningDate: 19 Mar 2024 | 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM Central America Standard TimeDescription: Dive into the world of manufacturing with a focus on Demand Planning. Learn from industry experts and share your insights. Dynamics User Group HoustonDate: 07 Mar 2024 | 11:00 AM to 01:00 PM Central America Standard TimeDescription: Houston, get ready for an immersive session on Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. Connect with fellow professionals and expand your knowledge. Reading Dynamics 365 & Power Platform User Group (Q1)Date: 05 Mar 2024 | 06:00 PM to 09:00 PM GMT Standard TimeDescription: Join our virtual meetup for insightful discussions, demos, and community updates. Let’s kick off Q1 with a bang! Leaders, Create Your Events!    Leaders of existing User Groups, don’t forget to create your events within the Community platform. By doing so, you’ll enable us to share them in future posts and newsletters. Let’s spread the word and make these gatherings even more impactful! Stay tuned for more updates, inspiring stories, and collaborative opportunities from and for our Community User Groups.   P.S. Have an event or success story to share? Reach out to us – we’d love to feature you!

Top Solution Authors
Top Kudoed Authors
Users online (7,070)